Datablog + Privacy | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog+world/privacy
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:47:54 GMT2015-08-02T19:47:54Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Metadata: Australians’ phone and internet details accessed 334,658 times in 2013-14http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jun/19/metadata-australians-phone-and-internet-details-accessed-334658-times-in-2013-14
<p>Requests for access to ‘existing information or documents’ continue to increase in absolute terms, according to a report from the Attorney General’s Department</p><p>Government departments, agencies and councils accessed metadata from Australians’ phone calls and internet use 334,658 times in 2013-14, according to the the Telecommunications (Interceptions and Access) Act <a draggable="true" href="https://www.ag.gov.au/NationalSecurity/TelecommunicationsSurveillance/Documents/Telecommunications-Interception-and-Access-Act-1979-Annual-Report.pdf">annual report</a>.</p><p>The act allows organisations to apply for access to “existing information or documents” which can include details of phone calls (but not the contents of the call) and internet access details such as subscribers’ personal information, and dates and times of internet usage.<br /></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jun/19/metadata-australians-phone-and-internet-details-accessed-334658-times-in-2013-14">Continue reading...</a>SurveillancePrivacyAustralia newsAustralian politicsAustralian security and counter-terrorismAustralian police and policingAustralian intelligence agenciesThu, 18 Jun 2015 21:23:40 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jun/19/metadata-australians-phone-and-internet-details-accessed-334658-times-in-2013-14Photograph: Dave Thompson/PAThe Telecommunications (Interceptions and Access) Act allows organisations to apply for access to ‘existing information or documents’ which can include details of phone calls.Nick Evershed2015-06-18T21:23:40ZThis simple game shows why metadata laws won't protect whistleblowershttp://www.theguardian.com/global/datablog/ng-interactive/2015/apr/15/this-simple-game-shows-why-metadata-laws-wont-protect-whistleblowers
<p>Australia has passed <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/26/mandatory-data-retention-becomes-law-as-coalition-and-labor-combine">data retention laws</a> that force telecommunications companies to retain some types of phone and web metadata. This data can be requested by government agencies and has been used to <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s70.html">investigate leaks</a> of government information to journalists.</p><p>It now takes a warrant to access a journalist’s metadata to identify a source, but this offers limited protection. Government agencies can still seek data from suspected sources without a warrant. This game shows how a whistleblower can still be identified. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/datablog/ng-interactive/2015/apr/15/this-simple-game-shows-why-metadata-laws-wont-protect-whistleblowers">Continue reading...</a>SurveillanceAustralia newsAustralian politicsData protectionPrivacyPrivacy & the mediaInternetCoalitionLabor partyMediaTechnologyWed, 15 Apr 2015 01:01:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global/datablog/ng-interactive/2015/apr/15/this-simple-game-shows-why-metadata-laws-wont-protect-whistleblowersPhotograph: Guardian AustraliaPhotograph: Guardian AustraliaNick Evershed2015-04-15T01:01:20ZHow much is your personal data worth?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/apr/22/how-much-is-personal-data-worth
<p>British ministers are looking at changes that will allow HMRC to sell taxpayers' data to third parties. Putting aside the privacy issues, how much is personal data worth?</p><p>As this paper <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/20/treasury-plans-sell-taxpayers-details-labour">reported last week</a>, ministers are considering changes in the law which would allow HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) to sell taxpayers’ data to third parties.</p><p>They are not, however the first to have this idea or to attempt to take advantage of what the World Economic Forum (WEF), of Davos fame, called <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_ITTC_PersonalDataNewAsset_Report_2011.pdf">a new asset type</a>.</p><p>I’ve read that a persons’ data goes for under 50 cents at the moment, so I reckon I’ve added lots of value to my data. On the other hand, I’ve sold my most intimate information. I don’t know if there’s any fair amount for that.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/apr/22/how-much-is-personal-data-worth">Continue reading...</a>Big dataPrivacyHMRCTue, 22 Apr 2014 12:17:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/apr/22/how-much-is-personal-data-worthPhotograph: Shawn BucklesShawn Buckles, the Dutch student who sold his own personal data for £288.Photograph: Shawn BucklesShawn Buckles, the Dutch student who sold his own personal data for £288.Billy Ehrenberg2014-04-22T12:17:09ZPorn trends in the UK: from time online to the biggest search termshttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/jan/07/pornhub-porn-trends-search-terms-time
Pornhub, one of the world's biggest porn sites, has shared its data with us, revealing how online habits - and sexual preferences – are changing across the country<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check/2013/aug/08/porn-filters-evidence-for-against">Will porn filters work?</a><p>Ware in Hertfordshire, it turns out, has more demand for online porn than any other UK town. Lasting 10 minutes 37 seconds online and clicking on 7.6 pages, an average visit from Ware is almost two minutes longer than one from Billingshurst, West Sussex. </p><p>The data comes from Pornhub, one of the UK's biggest porn sites, and reveals a great deal more about online preferences - although using data from just one adult site does might not be representative of all of them.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/jan/07/pornhub-porn-trends-search-terms-time">Continue reading...</a>PornographyUK newsInternetPrivacyInternet safetyTue, 07 Jan 2014 20:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/jan/07/pornhub-porn-trends-search-terms-timeMartyn Vickery / Alamy/AlamyWhere in the UK is this screen most likely to appear? Photograph: Martyn Vickery/AlamyMartyn Vickery / Alamy/AlamyThe internet "allows porn to reach every corner of the world, making access to the degradation of women only a click away." Photograph: Martyn Vickery / Alamy/AlamyMona Chalabi2014-01-07T20:00:00ZWhat information can retailers see when they track customer movements?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/11/information-retailers-track-customer-movements
Customers have shown concern about businesses using physical tracking - but they might feel differently if they knew the data that was being used.<p>Last week, the Guardian published a number of articles about the marketing value of big data. This column specifically focussed on how high street stores have started to install technology with the aim of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/03/analytics-amazon-retailers-physical-cookies-high-street">better understanding customer behaviour</a>. Briefly, retailers are investing in devices that either count the number of people who enter a store or visit a specific area. They are also using more sophisticated devices that can follow specific individuals' movements around a store via their smartphone.</p><p>If that last section sounds intrusive, that's because it kind of is. For many, it's a scary thought that a company could be tracking their movements, especially when it's taking place without their knowledge, let alone their consent.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/11/information-retailers-track-customer-movements">Continue reading...</a>Big dataAmazon.comTechnologyPrivacyFri, 11 Oct 2013 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/11/information-retailers-track-customer-movementsChristopher Thomond/GuardianChristmas shoppers at the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianSiraj Datoo2013-10-11T06:00:00ZHigh street shops are studying shopper behaviour by tracking their smartphones or movementhttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/03/analytics-amazon-retailers-physical-cookies-high-street
Brick-and-mortar retailers are increasingly implementing in-store analytics to better understand customer behaviour.<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/data/big-data">More from our series on big data</a><br />Go straight to:<br />• <a href="#one">How does it work?</a><br />• <a href="#two">Keeping customers happy</a><br />• <a href="#three">How is Apple getting involved?</a><p>If you walk into, or leave for that matter, the Crocs store on New York's fashionable Spring Street, a small device will register your presence and, later, your departure from the store. In fact, if you're a Crocs aficionado, this will happen to you in <a href="http://www.shoppertrak.com/news-resources/press-releases/2013-07/crocs-inc-deploys-shoppertrak-managed-service" "="">almost half of all their stores around the world</a>. </p><p>Some stores are also piloting technology by <a href="shoppertrak.com">ShopperTrak</a>, where your movements might be monitored. This can mean anything from devices using signals from your smartphone tracking your movements around the entire store to whether you go to a specific part of the store where a device will, again, note your presence in the area.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/03/analytics-amazon-retailers-physical-cookies-high-street">Continue reading...</a>Big dataAmazon.comTechnologyPrivacyThu, 03 Oct 2013 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/oct/03/analytics-amazon-retailers-physical-cookies-high-streetSiraj Datoo/guardian.co.ukShopperTrak's 'counters' are placed at the entry and exist points of their clients' stores. Image: The GuardianSiraj Datoo/guardian.co.ukCan you spot a tracking 'counter' in this image? Image: The GuardianSiraj Datoo/guardian.co.ukCrocs are one of a number of retailers to have implemented in-store analytics to understand customer behaviour.Siraj Datoo2013-10-03T08:00:00ZEurope deadlocked over data protection reformhttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/12/europe-data-protection-directive-eu
Talks over proposed changes to the EU Data Protection Directive have stalled, leaving citizens exposed to privacy risks<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/data/big-data">More from our series on big data</a><br />Jump straight to:<br />• <a href="#one">Pseudonymous data</a><br />• <a href="#two">UK firms selling customer data</a><br />• <a href="#three">The threat from non-EU organisations</a><p>An EU parliament vote on amendments to data protection law has been postponed for the third successive time, with the impasse leaving citizens' rights inadequately protected.</p><p>MEPs had been set to decide whether to ratify the latest set of proposals in early July but the vote is now scheduled to take place in October, with a view to publishing the amended legislation before the European elections in May 2014.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/12/europe-data-protection-directive-eu">Continue reading...</a>Big dataTechnologyEuropean UnionLawNSAGCHQUK newsPrivacyInternetPoliticsMon, 12 Aug 2013 15:48:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/12/europe-data-protection-directive-euSzilard Koszticsak/EPAViviane Reding, European commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, has called for a swift conclusion to data protection negotiations. Photograph: Szilard Koszticsak/EPASzilard Koszticsak/EPAViviane Reding says the European arrest warrant is an important tool to catch criminals. Photograph: Szilard Koszticsak/EPAJohn Burn-Murdoch2013-08-12T15:48:00ZIs the recruitment industry set for a big data revolution?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/08/recruitment-industry-set-for-big-data-revolution
Sports teams have realised the potential of taking a data-driven approach to recruitment, but with staffing taking up a large chunk of firms' costs, is corporate recruiting ripe for the same transformation?<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/data/big-data">More from our series on big data</a><br />Go straight to:<br />• <a href="#one">The HR team needs a statistician</a><br />• <a href="#three">Directly monitoring the workforce</a><br />• <a href="#five">Privacy concerns</a><p>Midway through his documentary <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjdjwyw2v4g">The Outside View</a>, Rob Symes asks Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi &amp; Saatchi, how the advertising giant manages recruitment. &quot;Our employee turnover rate is 30%&quot;, comes the proud response.</p><p>But should such a slash and burn approach to staffing be aspired to? Depending on the industry you look at, staff costs account for between roughly <a href="http://www.gartner.com/research/attributes/attr_47450_115.pdf">30%</a> and <a href="http://www.gartner.com/research/attributes/attr_47450_115.pdf">80%</a> of an organisations outgoings.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/08/recruitment-industry-set-for-big-data-revolution">Continue reading...</a>Big dataMarketing & PRTechnologyLinkedInFacebookPrivacyThu, 08 Aug 2013 06:32:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/08/recruitment-industry-set-for-big-data-revolutionDavid Loh/ReutersLinkedIn's algorithms use recruiters' established preferences to suggest candidates for jobs. Photograph: David Loh/ReutersDavid Loh/ReutersLinkedIn has just been floated in the US and is now worth more than $10bn. Photograph: David Loh/ReutersJohn Burn-Murdoch2013-08-08T06:32:00ZData security and privacy: can we have both?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jul/31/data-security-privacy-can-we-have-both
Companies store copies of information in multiple locations to minimise the risk of data loss, but does our right to privacy suffer as a result?<br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/data/big-data">More from our series on big data</a><p>Proposed data protection laws would require companies to delete information that could allow an individual to be identified, but existing data storage and duplication practices are at odds with the drive to protect our right to privacy.</p><p>The '<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/series/internet-privacy-the-right-to-be-forgotten">right to be forgotten</a>' is one of many concepts that could be introduced into new EU legislation on data protection later this year, but according to some within the data processing industry, most firms are still a long way from being able to comply.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jul/31/data-security-privacy-can-we-have-both">Continue reading...</a>Big dataTechnologyLawEuropean UnionData protectionPrivacyBusinessData and computer securityWed, 31 Jul 2013 06:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jul/31/data-security-privacy-can-we-have-bothJustin Grimes/guardian.co.ukA network graph showing the relationships between different data points based on common characteristics. Illustration: Justin GrimesJustin Grimes/guardian.co.ukA network graph showing the relationships between different data points based on common characteristics Illustration: Justin Grimes/guardian.co.ukJohn Burn-Murdoch2013-07-31T06:30:00ZAustralians' personal information accessed almost 300,000 timeshttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jun/11/australia-personal-information-accessed
Government departments and agencies accessed metadata from phone calls and internet use 293,501 times in 2011-12<p>Forty one government departments and agencies - from police forces to the RSPCA - accessed metadata from Australians' phone calls and internet use 293,501 times in 2011-12, the Telecommunications (interceptions and access) act <a href="http://www.ag.gov.au/NationalSecurity/TelecommunicationsSurveillance/Pages/Annualreports.aspx">annual report</a> reveals.</p><p>The act allows organisations to apply for access to 'existing information or documents' which can include details of phone calls (but not the contents of the call) and internet access details such as subscribers' personal information, and dates and times of internet usage. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jun/11/australia-personal-information-accessed">Continue reading...</a>Australia newsInternetPrivacySurveillanceTue, 11 Jun 2013 06:06:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jun/11/australia-personal-information-accessedPAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/ReutersAustralians' personal information was accessed almost 300,000 times in 2011-2012, according to a report from the Attorney-General's department. Photograph: PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/ReutersPAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/ReutersAustralians' personal information was accessed almost 300,000 times in 2011-2012, according to a report from the Attorney-General's department. Photograph: PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/ReutersLenore Taylor and Nick Evershed2013-06-11T06:06:00ZData protection law is in danger of lagging behind technological changehttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/apr/12/data-protection-law-lagging-behind-technology
"Law is always going to be playing catch up to technology", says senior UK data protection lawyer, as Britain negotiates new EU data protection regulations<br />• <a href="http://guardian.co.uk/data/big-data">More from the Guardian's series on big data</a><p>Data processing practices are evolving faster than the law can adapt to them, according to a senior British lawyer at an international law firm specialising in data protection.</p><p>Ask a lawyer and a database administrator for their definitions of &quot;delete&quot; or &quot;anonymise&quot; and you will quickly realise the size of the task facing legislators around the world as they seek to define and prevent irresponsible and outright criminal uses of data in 2013.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/apr/12/data-protection-law-lagging-behind-technology">Continue reading...</a>UK newsData protectionLawEuropean UnionBig dataTechnologyPrivacyInternetFri, 12 Apr 2013 11:25:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/apr/12/data-protection-law-lagging-behind-technologyKacper Pempel/REUTERS"Law is always going to be playing catch up to technology" where big data is concerned, according to a senior UK data protection lawyer. Photograph: Kacper Pempel/REUTERSKacper Pempel/REUTERS'When someone leaves a comment on an article, their personal data is being processed if the person is identifiable to the audience or to the organisation.' Photograph: Kacper Pempel/REUTERSJohn Burn-Murdoch2013-04-12T11:25:55ZCould data science turn the tide in the fight against cybercrime?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/big-data-science-combat-cybercrime
Cybercrime is booming, with malicious hacking and online fraud growing at an alarming rate. Reversing this trend appears an almost sisyphean task, but machine learning and bayesian statistics are proving invaluable to cyber security organisations<p>Hacking, fraud and other clandestine online activities have been making headlines in recent weeks, giving rise to concerns that law enforcement agencies are losing the war against cybercriminals. But just how serious a threat to the public is cyber crime, and could data science hold the key to reversing the trend?</p><p><a href="http://uk.emc.com/domains/rsa/index.htm">RSA</a>, the cyber security arm of US big data firm EMC, specialises in the use of advanced analytics and machine learning to predict and prevent online fraud. Its Anti-Fraud Command Centre (AFCC) has identified and terminated 500,000 such attacks in its eight year existence, half of which came in 2012 alone.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/big-data-science-combat-cybercrime">Continue reading...</a>Big dataCybercrimeHackingData and computer securityData protectionBAE SystemsTechnologyPrivacyWed, 27 Feb 2013 15:07:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/feb/27/big-data-science-combat-cybercrimeRSA/guardian.co.ukRSA's Anti-Fraud Command Centre, where thousands of cyber attacks are detected and tackled every day Photograph: RSA/guardian.co.ukRSA/guardian.co.ukRSA's Anti-Fraud Command Centre, where thousands of cyber attacks are detected and tackled every day Photograph: RSA/guardian.co.ukJohn Burn-Murdoch2013-02-27T15:07:00ZBig data: what is it and how can it help?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/oct/26/big-data-what-is-it-examples
Big data could change the way we see the world. This week experts have gathered in Washington DC to discuss it, these are some of the examples that came up<br />• <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/data">More data</a><p>Unless you work with it on a daily basis, big data is relatively unknown, both as a term and a concept. Even among industry experts its definition is the subject of intense debate. To some the key characteristic is a database's volume, to others it is its complexity, or even the speed at which data is gathered and analysed.</p><p>To you and I, big data is probably best understood as the enormous datasets held by corporations, governments and other large organisations whose activities affect millions of people. Big data is used to determine your recommended friends on Facebook, suggested purchases on Amazon and the point at which your mobile phone network offers you a freebie to keep you on side.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/oct/26/big-data-what-is-it-examples">Continue reading...</a>UK newsUS newsTechnologyInternetUnited NationsHealthSciencePrivacyAidBig dataFri, 26 Oct 2012 14:29:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/oct/26/big-data-what-is-it-examplesGraphicThe UN Global Pulse was launched with the primary aim of using using best practices in the big data industry to make faster and better informed responses to humanitarian crises. Graphic by UNGraphicGlobal Pulse screengrab - big data Photograph: GraphicJohn Burn-Murdoch2012-10-26T14:29:00ZHow to download your data from Google and Facebookhttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/22/download-your-data-google-facebook
From Subject Access Requests to online web tools, there are several ways to gain the information held about you<p>Want to find out how much data Google and Facebook have on you? I did so for my own accounts – many seven or more years old – and across different places, there was a phenomenal amount. Here's how to get the same information on yourself:</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/22/download-your-data-google-facebook">Continue reading...</a>InternetFacebookGooglePrivacySocial mediaUK newsSun, 22 Apr 2012 13:35:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/22/download-your-data-google-facebookThierry Roge/ReutersFacebook lets users download a history of the data that has been put on the site. Photograph: Thierry Roge/ReutersThierry Roge/ReutersFacebookfatigue may be exaggerated – but nothing is permanent on the internet. Photograph: Thierry Roge/ReutersJames Ball2012-04-22T13:35:00ZSurveillance trade shows: which government agencies attend?http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/feb/07/surveillance-shows-attendees-iss-world
At £634.31 a ticket you've really got to be interested in surveillance to attend the latest ISS World trade show. Here's the list of government agencies who ISS World list as attendees<br /><br />• <a href="#data">Get the data</a><p>The surveillance industry trade shows, for example <a href="http://www.issworldtraining.com/">ISS World</a> run by <a href="http://www.telestrategies.com/">Telestrategies</a>, are <strong>the</strong> place to see who's buying and selling intelligence gathering equipment. </p><p>At ISS World you can view surveillance gear and attend <a href="http://www.issworldtraining.com/ISS_WASH/">seminars</a> titled &quot;WIRETAPPING understanding the basics&quot; and &quot;The Basics of Weaponized Information&quot;. </p><p>Source: ISS World</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/feb/07/surveillance-shows-attendees-iss-world">Continue reading...</a>PrivacyPrivacy & the mediaSurveillancePhone hackingWikiLeaksGovernment dataFree our dataTue, 07 Feb 2012 12:05:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/feb/07/surveillance-shows-attendees-iss-worldDavid Moir/REUTERSSurveillance is big buisness but who is in the market and why?
Photograph: David Moir/REUTERSLisa Evans2012-02-07T12:05:00ZGoogle's user data requests: see what's been revealed and taken down wherehttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/nov/14/google-user-requests-data
Google's Transparency report lists government attempts to get the company to reveal data about its users - or take content down. Explore the data for yourself<br />• <a href="#data">Get the data</a><p>Google's <a href="http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/">Transparency report</a> provides a unique insight into how governments around the world try and screw information out of the company, often successfully.</p><p>When the data came out, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/25/google-transparency-report-released">Josh Halliday wrote how</a> it revealed that </p><p>Google separately declined orders by other police authorities to remove videos that allegedly defamed law enforcement officials … The demands formed part of a 70% rise in takedown requests from the US government or police, and were revealed as part of an effort to highlight online censorship around the world</p><p>• The number of US government requests for data on Google users for use in criminal investigations rose 29% in the last six months. Google says it complied in whole or part with 93% of such requests<br />• The US demanded private information about more than 11,000 Google users between January and June this year, almost equal to the number of requests made by 25 other developed countries, including the UK and Russia.<br />• Governments around the world requested private data about 25,440 people in the first half of this year, with 11,057 of those people in the US<br />• Google received 92 requests to remove data from its services, including YouTube. The requests collectively asked for 757 individual pieces of content be removed. Google says it complied fully or partially with 63% of the requests<br />• US government agencies sent Google 5,950 criminal investigation requests for data on Google users and services in the first six months of 2011, an average of 31 a day</p><p>SOURCE: <a href="http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/data/">Google Transparency Report</a></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/nov/14/google-user-requests-data">Continue reading...</a>World newsGoogleInternetPrivacyMon, 14 Nov 2011 16:59:40 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/nov/14/google-user-requests-dataGuardianGoogle data requests - where do they come from?GuardianGoogle logo Photograph: GuardianSimon Rogers2011-11-14T16:59:40ZThe Datablog guide to PFIhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2010/nov/19/pfi-public-finance
New government spending figures have focused attention on PFI deals. How much profit are private companies making from them? Here's the key data<br />• <a href="#data">Get the data</a><br />• <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/nov/19/government-spending-data">Download and explore the new public spending data for yourself</a><p>There is a simple principle that if you want something done, then you either do it yourself, get someone else to do it or you share the work. The last alternative, sharing a project, is an option that the government has been taking more and more in recent years. </p><p>Building schools, hospitals, prisons and roads in partnership with private companies has led the government into about 800 agreements, according to the <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldselect/ldeconaf/63/63i.pdf">latest select committee</a> - public/private agreements are known as the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The estimated cost for the government to get these projects up and running is &pound;64bn, and then &pound;267bn in repayments to private companies over the next 50 years. These figures can be calculated from the list of all <a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm">public private agreements</a> published by HM Treasury. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2010/nov/19/pfi-public-finance">Continue reading...</a>Private finance initiativePublic financePrivatisationGovernment dataFree our dataTechnologySpending review 2010NHSSocietyPrivacyFri, 19 Nov 2010 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2010/nov/19/pfi-public-financePRThe Birmingham new hospitals PFI project. Photograph: Balfour BeattyPRLisa Evans2010-11-19T11:00:00ZThe problem with transparent government | Aditya Chakraborttyhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jun/08/problem-transparent-government
Where should the line be drawn between privacy and transparency – and can Mel Gibson help?<p>If you want to find out what's wrong with David Cameron's promise to make government totally transparent, you can turn to legal scholars and political philosophers. But let's begin with a Mel Gibson film that also tackles this knotty problem of governance. I refer, of course, to his blockbuster What Women Want.</p><p>What Women Want is not one of those Gibson films that's all cars and corpses. Nor is it one in which Mr Lethal Weapon tries some late-career seriousness. No, it's the one in which he plays Nick Marshall (so alpha he's named after a guitar amp), an adman who has an accident that means he can all of a sudden hear the innermost thoughts of women.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jun/08/problem-transparent-government">Continue reading...</a>PsychologyDavid CameronPoliticsSciencePrivacyTue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/jun/08/problem-transparent-governmentAditya Chakrabortty2010-06-08T06:00:53ZGoogle data requests from governments: full list, as a spreadsheethttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/21/google-data-requests-governments
Google has released details of government requests for its data. This is the full list<br />• <a href="#data">Get the data</a><p>Stung by complaints over its approach to privacy - and state attempts to clamp down on the internet - Google has <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/20/google-google-street-view">revealed governments' requests</a> to remove data from the web and get information about users.</p><p>It has released a <a href="http://www.google.com/governmentrequests">map showing</a> country by country where it has had government requests or court orders to remove content from YouTube or its search results, or to provide details about users of its services.</p><p>SOURCE: Google</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/21/google-data-requests-governments">Continue reading...</a>UK newsWorld newsGoogleTechnologyInternetPrivacyCensorshipDigital mediaMediaWed, 21 Apr 2010 06:58:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/21/google-data-requests-governmentsPublic DomainScreengrab of Google's new tool to show government requests it has received.Public DomainScreengrab of Google's new tool to show government requests it has received.Simon Rogers2010-04-21T06:58:50Z